"It's a very simple game. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Sometimes it rains."
(Bull Durham)

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Locke v Gallardo, Lineup, Defense

Jeff Locke (0-0, 10.13) gets the call today in the deciding match of the three game set against Milwaukee, going against Yovani Gallardo (3-4, 4.08).

Locke was 3-1 with a 4.14 ERA in nine starts for Indy and is 1-1 with a 4.66 ERA in four career starts against the Brewers. The Jekyll and Hyde of the 2013 season, he has one outing under his belt this year. He was cruising against the Giants when he gave up four singles in the sixth to the first five hitters and was yanked for Bryan Morris, who was treated equally poorly.

So he gets a shot at redemption this afternoon. A good performance could catapult him back into the rotation mix; the staff is in a bit of disarray right now with Gerrit Cole hurt and Brandon Cumpton struggling.

Gallardo has gone from hero to zero. In six starts since May, his ERA has grown to 4.08 from 1.91 and he's lost four of his last five decisions. He is 11-4/2.71 against the Bucs lifetime, and has started three times against Pittsburgh this year without a decision, putting up a solid 3.44 ERA.

The game starts at 1:35 and will be available on Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan.

The Bucs haven't announced the move yet, but someone has to go to clear a space on the active roster for Jeff Locke.

One aspect of Pirate pitching that's been underplayed is the support behind them. The Bucs have surrendered 27 unearned runs in 61 games; last year, they only allowed 42 unearned tallies in 162 games. The preferred story line continues to remain defensive shifting, but the Bucs UZR in 2014 is -23.2 compared to +10.9 last season, and the fielding % has dropped from .984 in 2013 to .979. The shift isn't enhancing a good D, but masking a subpar one.

Yesterday marked the first time Matt Garza has won back-to-back games since last July.

3 comments:

Ike looked clueless yesterday at the plate and in the field. one of several times the boy has looked lost in his brief stint with the Bucs.

If I were the GM of this team I would order Clint to MOVE Pedro across the diamond to 1B where he should be. Play JayHey at 3B. Tabata/Marte and Polanco can rotate in the outfield.

Pedro at 3B is insulting to baseball fans. My 11 year-old plays on a very competitive team. There is no way his coach would keep a player at third who is as BAD as Pedro.

Why can't this team see the obvious. When I have a chance to talk with Pirates brass later this year, I will tell them that exactly. There are too many people who love this team for management to continue with this BS. Pedro is not an MLB 3B and everyday we run him out there to play is a day we don't have our best lineup on the field.

Dave - Given that there are no corners in the system, and Josh so far, given an opportunity to play every day, has taken full advantage and Ike hasn't, the brass would have to be clueless to not be considering that very move.

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